In celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday this week, we observe Read Across America Day -- a Congressionally-recognized anniversary reminding all of us to read to our children. This year, Michelle Obama will read a favorite Dr. Seuss book to 300 elementary school students at the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building for the National Education Association. Last year at this time, I sat in on a session of Congress and observed the passing of the House resolution to continue Read Across America Day. It was presented by the Congresswoman in Dr. Suessish-rhyme, made up words and all!
Read to your kids!! To me, this is as important as making sure that they are fed, bathed and well-rested. Why are books and reading so important? Take a minute to look around you. Everything around us these days moves at lightning speed. Their brains process double what we did at their age. The barrage of information is constant, barely giving our little ones the chance to process and take in before there is more to absorb. No wonder they are distracted, stressed and a little disconnected.
Books give our kids the opposite effect. You can only read to them so fast. Their brains are charged with conjuring up images that an author is presenting; they comprehend and process. It forces them (and us) to slow down. We take moments together to breathe, imagine and internally create.
My favorite memory as a child is sitting in the lap of my mother while she read to me. This was no small feat for this woman. She had a full-time job at an office and a second job at raising seven kids. After all of the chaos of our days diminished – after dinner, dishes, baths, and homework, she ushered us in, shut a door and shut out the rest of the world. For one half-hour, every night of my childhood, the house settled and we sat around her and listened. My favorite book was “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton. My younger brother loved, “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.” She would read them again and again. This ritual was our nightly routine, our worldly respite from everything pulling us apart during the day.
Reading MATTERS. Through words, imaginations learn to explore. Being READ TO gives children the chance to lay back, gaze upward at a bedroom ceiling, and let their imaginations do the work. But more importantly, it connects us to them in ways that they will never forget.
How do I know? I’m 41. I can process so memories of my life, but the one I cling to the most is a Mom who took time every single day to read to me. She was busy and tired. She probably just wanted to go to bed, but instead she huddled her children around, cracked open a book and we ended our day together.
I have read to my son every night since he was an infant. These days, when we’re out late on a weekend or the day runs long and I suggest skipping a book so we can get to bed, he stops ME and says, “No, you need to read to me.” And he’s right. I need to. For him and for myself.
In honor of Dr. Seuss and all writers that have followed, I ask all parents, working or stay-at-home, to read to your children. They may forget a lot of things about childhood but will never forget that time with you.
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